Kingfisher Inn's Fishing Calendar and the flies we use by Capt. Scott Sparrow
Month
January	The early part of January offers some of the best winter fishing that we have.  This is a great time for finding world-record size trout on the flats with redfish in certain locales. As a rule, the water temperatures hover in the low to mid-60s, and the fish are quite willing to take a fly. After mid-January, however, the cold fronts are stacking up to the point where the windows of opportunity between the fronts grow shorter and shorter. The fishing is the most difficult from late January until early to mid-March. Spoon flies, Mother's Day Flies, deceivers, seaducers.
February	See above. The fish can be a bit sluggish until mid-February.
March	The tides rise in March due to the position of the sun. Beginning in March, the juvenile brown shrimp draw the redfish into the westside lagoons, where they begin podding. Trout will often encircle the podding reds, too. Laughing gulls feed above the podding fish. Wind can be fierce in March, but if the birding action is "on," we usually do well. Clousers and Kingfisher spoons for podding reds and trout.
April	April is similar to March, except that the cold fronts begin to subside, and the southeast wind becomes more reliable. The "birding action" reaches its peak, and double-digit days are not uncommon. Poppers, clousers and spoons on the west side; clousers and crabs on the east side. The east side "sand" action offers excellent opportunies on sunny days.
May	The birding action declines, but the podding on the west side continues. Some of the west side lagoons can be full of tailing pods of reds at daybreak. Also, the east side "turns on," as the reds and trout pour onto the  "sand" during midday and the afternoon. Ladyfish begin to swarm all over the east side. Double digit days are not uncommon when the sand action is at its best. VIP poppers, MDFs, and Kingfisher spoons (unweighted flies) on the west side. Clousers and crabs for reds,  baitfish patterns for trout, and clousers and flashy flies for ladyfish on the east side.
June	The tides fall in mid-June, and the water warms, drawing the brown shrimp toward the deeper water. The reds may be found podding along the Intracoastal, or feeding singly in the shallow, clear water of the west side lagoons, and the on the east side, too. The largely unknown phenomenon -- the "redfish parade" -- begins in certain westside venues, often creating spectacular topwater action in bootie deep water from daybreak until late morning. Stalking tailing redfish from daybreak until late morning characterizes June through August, as the lower tides make the fish especially visible. Big trout can be seen tailing near the ICW in the morning. Numerous small trout can be caught on poppers along the edge of the ICW at daybreak. VIP poppers, MDFs, and spoons on the west side; clousers and flashy flies (for ladyfish) on the east side.
July	Same as June, perhaps the best overall month (with August) of the year for the redfish parade, and individual tailing action. People often worry about the daytime temperatures, but the bay water usually mitigates the summer heat, along with a sea breeze that comes up after daybreak. Big trout action near the Intracoastal.
August	Same as July.
September	A transitional month. The tides rise in September, and the redfish begin to pod in the westside lagoons again, this time feeding on the white shrimp population that is nearing maturity, and crabs.  The birding action resumes in September and October and continues through November.
October	A better month than September, as a rule. The birding action increases, and continues into November. Redfish begin schooling in preparation for their late autumn spawning near the passes.
November	Fall action continues, but cold fronts begin to increase in frequency, making it necessary for visiting anglers to watch the forecast, and be ready to reschedule if necessary. A great month, however, characterized by stunning daybreak action, and excellent sand action.
December	The tides fall again around the first of December, creating better sight casting opportunities than the autumn months. December offers some of the highest-catching days, as the reds feed on small crabs in the west side lagoons. The fish eat substantial amounts of fin fish through the winter, as well. VIPs, MDFs and spoons on the west side. Clousers, seaducers and deceivers on the east side.